Books

Book Review: The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley

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It is my pleasure to bring you my review of The People on Platform 5 by Clare Dooley.

If you’ve followed my blog for a while you will know that I loved The Authenticity Project, so I knew that I had to read The People on Platform 5.

The People on Platform 5 is set around a number of characters, but it starts with Iona, an eccentric writer in her late 50s who loves to help people both through her column and in real life. The unspoken rule on any British train is that you do not talk to anyone and you certainly don’t make eye contact – strangers should always remain strangers. Yet Iona finds herself becoming part of the lives of her fellow commuters – unlikely (and in some cases unwanted!) friendships are formed in the unlikeliest of places.

Piers is a man in finance who is used to showing off his wealth in a selfish, pompous way. However what he doesn’t show is the unhappiness he feels in his career, or the past that he is trying to escape.

Sanjay is a nurse with anxiety, and a crush on his fellow commuter Emma.

Emmie is in marketing and has a boyfriend who adores her – adores her in a way that means he needs to know where she is, what she’s doing and tries to control the direction her life is taking.

Martha is a teenage girl who gets the train to school. She finds her life crumbling around her after she makes the mistake of sending a photograph…

David is the wildly forgettable solicitor who is close to losing his marriage.

This is a novel that very much focusses on characters, and that is something that Clare Pooley does very well. Each character is very well rounded, and you can’t help but want them to succeed in life despite their flaws. Iona is the ultimate eccentric woman, a trailblazer who deserves a life full of friendship, love and joy. I couldn’t help but be drawn in by these characters, and I am sure you will be too.

I am more than happy to recommend this novel to you all, it’s full of relatable characters just trying to find their path in life – so as the Autumn evenings draw in, grab yourself a blanket, a glass of wine and a copy of The People on Platform 5.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*BLOG TOUR* Not in a Billion Years by Camilla Isley

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Today it is my pleasure to help kick off the fabulous blog tour for Camilla Isley’s latest novel, Not in a Billion Years.

Bestselling Camilla Isley returns with this gorgeously funny enemies-to-lovers rom com, perfect for fans of Sarah Adams, Lynn Painter and Jo Watson.

She’s a self-made fitness sensation. He’s a billionaire mogul. They’re sworn enemies and rivals… aren’t they?

Blake Avery knows all about hard work. She’s gone from making videos in her teenage bedroom to founding a booming fitness business and opening a state-of-the-art Manhattan gym. Now she’s on the cusp of realizing her wildest dreams, and she’s not going to let anyone stand in her way.

Certainly not man-of-the-hour Gabriel Mercer. He might be one of the biggest names in the fitness world and set women’s pulses soaring more than a grueling HIIT workout, but he grew up in a billionaire dynasty and had everything handed to him – or so Blake thinks.

But when Blake publicly criticizes Gabriel, she sparks a feud that neither entrepreneur is willing to back down from. And in an industry that seems determined to keep pushing them together, can Blake hold on to her grudge? Or will she finally warm up to Gabriel’s charm?

I am always very happy to discover that Camilla Isley is releasing a new novel – they are always full of heart, with a great ‘will they won’t they’ storyline and some serious romance. I am pleased to confirm that Not in a Billion Years does not disappoint!

Blake Avery is a self made woman. She has been creating her own brand since the tender age of 16, and finally she has made it, with the bricks and mortar (also known as a state-of-the-art gym!) to prove it. She has no intention of letting some billionaire in the fitness world who has been handed everything on a plate hold her back or stop her progress. When she publicly criticises said billionaire, she inadvertently finds herself starting a feud!

Gabriel Mercer is the hot shot billionaire in question. Devastatingly handsome and wildly successful, he is very upset to find out that the owner of a new fitness centre has called him out for being handed his success on a plate by his wealthy family. He can’t help himself as he finds himself marching down to this new fitness centre to have it out with the unknown Blake Avery in person. Imagine his surprise when he find out she’s a very attractive young woman!

Blake and Gabriel are both great characters, and perfect for a ‘will they won’t they’ novel. They are attractive and successful in their own right which I find makes for a great story. Blake is self assured, and confident in her own abilities, as well as the brand that she has created from nothing in her teenage bedroom. Her success is all her own, and she certainly did not need a man to get her to where she is. Obviously she has some past relationship trauma (who doesn’t!) but everything she has, she created herself. Throw in the very attractive, intelligent Gabriel, and you have two characters that you can’t help but root for!

I am more than happy to recommend this to you all – it’s a fab novel, and perfect for these warm September days. So grab yourself a glass of wine, and cosy up with these novels whilst enjoying this later summer sunshine!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Thank you to Camilla Isley, Boldwood Books and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour and providing me with a copy of this novel. My review and opinions are my own.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Apple Books

Author Bio

Camilla Isley is an engineer who left science behind to write bestselling contemporary rom-coms set all around the world. She lives in Italy.

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Book Review: The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale

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I am very pleased to bring you my review of The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale.

Do you remember when you believed in magic?

An enchanting, magical novel set in a mysterious toyshop – perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus and Stephanie Garber’s Caraval by way of Jessie Burton’s The Miniaturist

It is 1917, and while war wages across Europe, in the heart of London, there is a place of hope and enchantment.

The Emporium sells toys that capture the imagination of children and adults alike: patchwork dogs that seem alive, toy boxes that are bigger on the inside, soldiers that can fight battles of their own. Into this family business comes young Cathy Wray, running away from a shameful past. The Emporium takes her in, makes her one of its own.

But Cathy is about to discover that the Emporium has secrets of its own…

Well this is a novel like nothing else I have ever read!

Cathy Wray is a young woman with a secret. When she finds herself having to run away from her home and everything that she knows, she finds herself following an advert to a mysterious toy shop in London. It is here that she makes herself a new home, despite the shop only being open during the Christmas season. It is also here that she finds herself making a new family whilst discovering a multitude of secrets.

Papa Jack started The Emporium as a way to escape his past and protect his two sons. The magic he brings to his toys is truly unbelievable. And yet all you want to do is believe. But setting such a high standard can only bring a competitiveness between his sons that he would never have imagined.

What a magical novel! I was hooked from the beginning…stories of patchwork dogs that are so lifelike, and toy soldiers that can wage a war are fantastical, whilst also containing the human element. A real life war, a young women escaping a future that she has no control over – it contains a little something for everyone.

I really enjoyed this novel, and once I had finished it I could not quite understand why I had put off reading it for so long. It was whimsical whilst also being emotional. The magical elements force you to look back at your own childhood whilst wishing The Emporium had existed for us all.

I am more than happy to recommend this novel – there are dark elements to it, but you can’t help but be enchanted by The Emporium and its inhabitants.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All views and opinions are my own.

Book Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

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I am so excited to bring you my review of this fabulous novel, Book Lovers by Emily Henry.

Nora is a cut-throat literary agent at the top of her game. Her whole life is books.

Charlie is an editor with a gift for creating bestsellers. And he’s Nora’s work nemesis.

Nora has been through enough break-ups to know she’s the one men date before finding their happy-ever-after. To prevent another dating dud, Nora’s sister has persuaded her to swap her city desk for a month’s holiday in Sunshine Falls.

It’s a small town straight out of a romance novel, but instead of meeting sexy lumberjacks, handsome doctors or cute bartenders, Nora keeps bumping into…Charlie.

She’s no heroine. He’s no hero. So can they take a page out of an entirely different book?

Brimming with witty banter, characters you can’t help but fall for and off-the-charts chemistry, BOOK LOVERS is Emily Henry’s best novel yet.

I feel like I barely need to talk about this book – it was the summer book of 2022 and quite rightly so! I am wildly late in providing you with my thoughts (because i’d like to think that you have already read it), but I’m here to give you my opinion nonetheless! If you’ve followed me for a while you will know that I read and loved Beach Read, so it was only natural that I would pick up Book Lovers. I am pleased to confirm that I was not disappointed!

Nora is a literary agent whose whole life revolves around books. Whilst being a literary agent may not have been her top choice of job, she is good at it. She has always needed stability in her life, and her job provides her with that. With her dating life being a bit of a bust, she has always found solace in her work.

Charlie is an editor who is renowned for the best sellers he creates. However following his first meeting with Nora it is clear that they would never get on, either personally or professionally!

When Nora and Charlie both find themselves unexpectedly in the small town of Sunshine Falls, they must find a way to get along because there is no way of avoiding each other in such a small town!

What a great book – Emily Henry has such a way with characters, as is evident in Book Lovers. Nora on first appearance may appear quite cold and calculating, but she is in fact a wonderful, well rounded character who loves her sister Libby fiercely. After a number of heartbreaks, she is clearly just trying to save herself from a broken heart by putting up walls to everyone but Libby. With Charlie, it is clear that you cannot judge a book by its cover. One bad day, one bad meeting, does not mean that you know him as a man. He attempts to hide his stresses and has the world upon his shoulders.

This is very much a character led novel, but the stereotypical small town setting works perfectly. I cannot recommend this novel enough – its an enemies to lovers novel that will be tough to beat!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Purchase Links

Support your local independent bookstores where possible – if you don’t have one then please feel free to support mine! Maldon Books

Amazon UK

Book Review: Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

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I am very pleased to bring you my review of Reminders of Him – I’ve finally read some Colleen Hoover!

After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.

The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing.

So after being told multiple times that I needed to read something from Colleen Hoovers vast catalogue of novels, I finally gave in and picked up Reminders of Him. I then promptly put it on my to be read pile, because every time I read the synopsis it made feel a little too depressed. However I am pleased to say that after some sisterly nagging, I did indeed pick it back up and I am so pleased that I did! What an emotional rollercoaster of a novel!

Kenna Rowan is a young woman who has spent five years paying for her actions that resulted in tragedy. The ultimate price though, was the removal of her daughter after giving birth in prison. Desperate to atone for her mistakes and be reunited with her daughter, she finds herself back in her hometown. But with no one willing to hear her out, she finds herself isolated with no one to turn to.

Ledger Ward is the devastatingly handsome local bar owner who is drawn to Kenna without really understanding why. His intense need to protect her however could mean that he loses everything and everyone he knows.

This novel really does have all the ups and downs! I would have liked to have seen a little more of how Kenna’s experiences of prison affected her returning to normal life, but that is the only negative I can think of. This is obviously a romance novel, but it is also the story of a young woman looking for redemption without making any excuses for her actions. She may struggle to deal with those actions and how they tragically impacted others, but there are no attempts to gloss over them or run away. She faces them head on with integrity, making this an emotional read. Ledger is also a very lovely addition to the novel (who doesn’t want to read about a handsome man who just wants to care for and protect a woman?!).

I can confirm that I will be reading more of Colleen Hoover as a result – I am therefore more than happy to recommend this novel to you all. Grab a glass of wine, a box of tissues (you’ll need them) and find yourself a quiet spot to enjoy Reminders of Him – you won’t regret it.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Purchase Links

If you’ve got a local independent bookstore, head there in the first instance! If not, then I’ve provided a purchase link below.

Amazon UK

*BLOG TOUR* Life and Love at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke

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I am very pleased to bring you my review of Life and Love at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke on day two of her fabulous blog tour!

With Mulberry Lane’s favourite pub, The Pig & Whistle undergoing renovation, proprietors Peggy and Able Ronoscki leave the chaos behind and head off on a trip of a lifetime to America. But disaster hits and Peggy finds herself in a critical condition in hospital.

Meanwhile, business is booming for young entrepreneurs Fay Ronoscki and Maggie Rowan with their new restaurant and catering empire. It seems neither has time for love.

But when fate throws a famous global singing sensation and glamourous racing car driver into the girls paths, falling in love with Jace and Greg seems beyond their control. Cupid has struck.

Life is made up of laughter, love and tears.

What is next for the folk of Mulberry Lane – can they find the happiness they all so crave?

Another passionate tearjerker from Rosie Clarke in the Mulberry Lane series.

Published only yesterday, I was so pleased to get my hands on an early copy of Life and Love at Mulberry Lane. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you will know what a fan I am of Rosie Clarkes Mulberry Lane series. Life and Love at Mulberry Lane is book 9 in the Mulberry Lane series, so we’ve had plenty of time to become acquainted with these wonderful characters. If you haven’t read anything from the Mulberry Lane series before, check out my reviews of the rest of this fabulous series;

The Girls of Mulberry Lane (Book 1)

A Wedding at Mulberry Lane (Book 2)

Mulberry Lane Babies (Book 3)

New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane (Book 4)

The Women of Mulberry Lane (Book 5)

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane (Book 6)

Stormy Days on Mulberry Lane (Book 7)

A New Dawn Over Mulberry Lane (Book 8)

Life and Love at Mulberry Lane finds us in 60s where the next generation in Mulberry Lane is seeking to create their own successes and carve out lives of their own. Penny and Able find themselves heading off the America, with Able keen to show Peggy where he is from, leaving behind Fay and Maggie to finish renovations on the Pig and Whistle whilst pushing their budding businesses forward in the hope of being successful in their own right. But when Peggy finds herself injured so far away from her beloved Mulberry Lane, and with businesses hitting stumbling blocks and love being in the air, life is never straight forward!

I chose to read The Girls of Mulberry Lane because of my love of WWII fiction, so I was dubious when Rosie Clarke started to extend the Mulberry Lane series beyond this timeframe. However now that we are 9 books in, I can confirm that I read these books for the characters. I have loved following them and their children as they navigate a post war London, and it’s so wonderful as you watch the children grow into adults and carve their own paths in the world. I am sure this series is heading towards it natural conclusion now, but I remain hopeful that we’ll get one more book to finish off their stories nicely.

I am more than happy to recommend Life and Love at Mulberry Lane, along with the rest of this wonderful series to you all. It’s full of love, life and drama, with characters that you can’t help but become attached too. It’s Friday, so grab yourself a takeaway, a glass of wine, and settle in for a weekend with Peggy Ronoscki and her friends on Mulberry Lane!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Rosie Clarke and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review!

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Author Bio

Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Shop Girls of Harpers and The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire.

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*BLOG TOUR* Daisy Does it Herself by Gracie Player

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Today it is my stop on the fabulous blog tour for Daisy Does it Herself by Gracie Player.

Sometimes, the Last Place You Intended to Go is Exactly Where You Need to Be.

When 26-year-old Daisy’s life in London comes crashing down around her, the only thing she can think of is getting away – far away. That’s how she found herself stumbling off a train in England’s picturesque Peak District – 150 miles from home, with no idea why she’d gone there and even less idea how she intended to get home.

As Daisy explores the gorgeous village of Upper Finlay, she glimpses the possibility of a different life. The Derbyshire Dales offer up new friends, new opportunities, and a distractingly dishy object of attraction in the form of local bookstore owner Alex (and his bumbling Great Dane.) When Daisy discovers Alex’s business is in trouble she steps in to save the day.
But London’s Calling – literally. The life Daisy ran away from is calling her back. Why then, is she so reluctant to heed its call?

Daisy’s got a decision to make: Will she play it safe, and return to what she knew? Or is she brave enough to take a leap of faith and create a bold, new life for herself in the last place she’d ever expected?

Daisy Does it Herself is a sweet, uplifting romantic comedy about the power of self-confidence, friendship and of course love! Fans of warm and witty romantic comedies with a guaranteed happily-ever-after will be entranced.

I am a big fan of romance novels set in bookstores, so I knew I was onto a winner when Daisy Does it Herself popped up. Daisy finds herself in the awful position of being jobless and potentially boyfriend less all in the same day. In shock at how her day has turned out, she gets on a train – and doesn’t get off! Finding herself in the beautiful Peak District, she finds herself stuck with no way home. When she comes across the local bookstore in the quaint village of Upper Finlay, Daisy finds herself a refuge. With a place to stay, and a job in the bookstore, Daisy sets herself a timeframe to work out what she wants from her relationship, as well as what she can achieve in her professional life. With the very handsome bookstore owner literally right downstairs, and new friends being made, Daisy finds herself with some very tough decisions to make!

This is such a lovely, easy read novel. The relationship between Daisy and her boyfriend Phil is worrying and the relationship between Daisy and her mother is almost as bad, so watching her escape them and working out what she wants on her own is quite frankly, refreshing. The added bonus is that she has to make all these decisions whilst surrounded by books! There are worse places to be! This is the perfect light read for a rainy (or snowy if the weather forecasts are to be believed!) Sunday afternoon! So get that fire roaring, grab yourself a hot chocolate* (*feel free to replace this with a glass of wine if you’re not doing dry January!) and settle in with this lovely novel – its the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and TRMBooks for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Author Bio

Gracie is the author of the romantic fiction novel Daisy Does it Herself. 

Gracie loves to create strong, quirky heroines and hopes to introduce you to your latest book-boyfriend crush.

She makes her home in the stunning Peak District in Derbyshire. Where she lives with her partner — amid ongoing negotiations over the size of her book collection and whose job it is to take out the bins!

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Book Review: New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse by Christie Barlow

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Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse by Christie Barlow, which is book 9 in the Love Heart Lane series.

‘A letter, a goodbye, and a baby girl whose name will begin with “L”…’

When Heartcross’ resident clairvoyant tells Molly McKendrick to expect a whole lot of scandal and upset to blow in with the approaching winter storm, Molly doesn’t know what to think.

With a baby on the way any week now, and Christmas not far off, the last thing Molly needs is drama, but when she crosses paths with Bree, a sixteen-year-old homeless girl, and takes her in from the cold, secrets from the past flood the present and Molly, her partner Cam, and their son George, are soon experiencing a holiday season filled with unexpected festive surprises…

Imagine my excitement when I found myself in possession of New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse so soon after receiving The New Doctor at Peony Practice!

New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse brings back to us some beloved characters, Molly and Cam, so that we can find out what happens to them next. First featured in Primrose Park, it was wonderful to come back to these lovely characters to find out what happened to them and their lovely son George.

Heavily pregnant Molly is keen to give back to the community, so whilst trying to help Sam at the homeless hostel Molly crosses paths with Bree, a young homeless girl. With Cam working hard at the Old Bakehouse, a baby on the way and now a young girl to help, Molly finds herself in a turmoil. With a snow storm thrown into the mix, there is plenty of drama in Heartcross!

Yet another excellent addition to the Love Heart Lane series, and with an opportunity to revisit characters, I am more than happy to recommend New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse. Christie Barlow certainly knows how to write books that feel like a warm hug – it just makes me want to move to Heartcross and immerse myself in such a lovely community! Definitely go and grab yourself a copy, and cosy up with a blanket and glass of wine and lose yourself in Heartcross!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and Christie Barlow for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Love Heart Lane series

Love Heart Lane (Book One)

Foxglove Farm (Book Two)

Clover Cottage (Book Three)

Starcross Manor (Book Four)

The Lake House (Book Five)

Primrose Park (Book Six)

Heartcross Castle (Book Seven)

The New Doctor at Peony Practice (Book Eight)

BOOK REVIEW: The New Doctor at Peony Practice by Christie Barlow

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Today it is my pleasure to bring you my review of The New Doctor at Peony Practice by Christie Barlow, book eight in the Love Heart Lane series.

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what 

All’s fair in love and…medicine?

Dr Katie O’Neil has only been in Heartcross a few hours when she finds herself already ruffling feathers – not least with medical school nemesis and new colleague Ben Sanders.

Katie’s the woman Ben loves to hate and until now he’d hoped he’d never set eyes on her again but now she’s back – and living next door!

When a charity boat race down the River Heart puts the two in direct competition, sparks fly. The winner takes it all, but who will it be? And will their prize be far more than they were expecting…

It always pleases me when when Christie Barlow releases another novel in the wonderful Love Heart Lane series. Heartcross is full of a wonderful community of characters, so it is certainly no hardship to revisit them all!

The New Doctor at Peony Practice focuses on Dr Katie O’Neil and Dr Ben Sanders, and it quickly becomes apparent that they have met before! Having gone to medical school together, Ben is more than a little dismayed when he discovers that his new colleague at Peony Practice is none other than his nemesis, Katie!

It immediately becomes clear that there are sparks flying between the two of them, and that there really is a fine line between love and hate. With Katie integrating herself in the Heartcross community by immediately arranging a charity boat race, Ben can do very little but get swept up along with her plans. With both Ben and Katie having complicated pasts, maybe they need each, along with their vibrant community, to help them both move on.

The New Doctor at Peony Practice gives us the opportunity to revisit many beloved characters, whilst also introducing Ben and Katie into the Heartcross fold. This is a love story of course; but it’s also emotional, witty and fun. It is most definitely a worthy addition to the Love Heart Lane series! So I am more than happy to recommend this to you all, and if you haven’t already, I suggest you make a start on the rest of this series!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and Christie Barlow for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Love Heart Lane Series

Love Heart Lane (Book One)

Foxglove Farm (Book Two)

Clover Cottage (Book Three)

Starcross Manor (Book Four)

The Lake House (Book Five)

Primrose Park (Book Six)

Heartcross Castle (Book Seven)

Book Review: One Night on the Island by Josie Silver

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It is my pleasure to bring you my review of One Night on the Island by Josie Silver.

Cleo writes about love stories every day. She just isn’t living one of her own.

When the editor of her dating column asks her to marry herself on a remote Irish island – a sensational piece to mark Cleo’s thirtieth birthday – Cleo agrees. She’s alone but not lonely, right? She can handle a solo adventure.

Cleo arrives at her luxury cabin to find a tall, dark, stubborn American who insists it’s actually his. Mack refuses to leave, and Cleo won’t budge either. With a storm fast approaching, they reluctantly hunker down together. It’s just one night, after all . . .

But what if one night on the island is just the beginning?

Cleo is a writer who writes about love but is yet to find it for herself. She has a dating column in a magazine, but she is fast approaching 30 and becoming disillusioned by both her life and her work. When her editor sends her to a remote Irish island to marry herself as a way of marking her 30th birthday, she embraces the idea, even if she’s not yet quite sure what it all means. What she doesn’t want however, is the tall dark American man she finds in her rental cottage on arrival.

Mack, the tall dark American, has escaped to Salvation Island in the hope of creating a photographic exhibition that will surpass anything he’s created before. He has spent years dreaming of following his Grandmothers stories to Salvation Island, but he finally gets the push when he realises he and his wife may be creating a toxic environment for their sons whilst they are separated. What he doesn’t need is some hippy woman in his cottage, intent on marrying herself.

This is a love story, but not in the typical sense. Cleo is a strong, independent woman looking for purpose, and she knows she doesn’t need a man to find it. Mack is a broken man who needs to navigate his marital breakdown whilst ensuring his sons are always his primary focus. They certainly don’t need each other at this point in their lives, but they may just find that wanting each other doesn’t have to mean giving up on their individual dreams.

This was such a lovely story – I loved the remote, harsh landscape of Salvation Island with its tiny community cut off from the rest of the UK. But mostly I loved the characters. I loved that neither one of them wanted to compromise on their aims for the future, and that neither of them had to. Cleo is headstrong and independent, whilst being feminine, loving and empathetic. Mack is a man who is lost and emotional, but with a deep understanding of the need to allow others to grow. The chemistry between them is slow burning, and builds beautifully.

I am more than happy to recommend this novel. This is my first Josie Silver novel, but it certainly won’t be my last!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.